Can opener



Se t.- 1'6? 924.

H. O. ZBINDEN CAN OPENER Filed Sept.- 1, 1923 I w m m Q5 QN QNI NM! 4\@w o mi V j M.

ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN O. ZBINIDEN, E SEATTLE, WASHINGTQN, ASSIGNQR 0F ONE-THIRD TOJOSEPH A. MARQUIS AND ONE-THIRD TO VICTOR LE. GRAVES, BOTH OF SEATTLE,

WASHINGTON.

7 Application filed September To all whom it may 001mm.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN O. ZniNDEN, a citizen. of the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lVashing-ton,have invented new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers, and aims to simplify theconstruction illustrated in patent numbered 1,446,804, to provide adevice of this character which can be manufactured and sold at a nominalcost.

It is also the purpose of this invention to provide a can opener havinga centering element adapted to penetrate the top of the can, and acutting blade adapted to penetrate the side of the can adjacent the top,so that the latter can be removed in a quick and convenient manner, theblade being associated with the handle of the device to insure maximumstrength and rigidity.

In carrying out the invention I make use of a cutting blade having twocutting edges, one of which is utilized to sever the top from a can bypenetrating the Side of the latter, while the other cutting edge can beused to penetrate the top of the can to remove the latter in the usualwell known manner.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detailed description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the

invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the device showing it associated with a canfor removing the top therefrom, with the cutting blade penetrating theside of the can.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation.

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is asectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,'lookingin the direction of the arrows.

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention embodiesa handle side 13 substantially CAN OPENER.

1, 1925, Serial No. 660,590.

which is formed from a single length of suitable material, and ofuniform width throughout. This material is bent upon itself to providethe members and 11 re. spectively, which members are spaced apart forthe major portion of their length. The member 10 terminates at one endto provide a U-sha-ped portion, the parallel sides of which areindicated at 12 and 13 respectively and the intermediate wall at 1 1. Asclearly shown in Figure 3, the intermediate wall 14 is arranged in faceto face contact with the other member 11, this wall lei being of alength to arrange the parallel flush with the adjacent end of the member11. Arranged on the member 11 is a cutting blade 15, and this blade issecured in place by meansof rivets or other suitable fastening elements16 which are also utilized to secure the. .U-

shaped portion of the member 10 to the member 11 of the handle. The'U-shaped portion just referred to constitutes aguide for the centeringelement 17 which is arranged toslide through aligned openings 18 in theparallel sides of said portion, and

also in thespace between the handle members 10 and 11 respectively. Theforward end of this centering element is offset as shown and terminatesto provide a pointed extremity 19 adapted to penetrate the top of thecan to be opened. The opposite end of the centering element is enlargedas at 20 to constitute a stop and thus limit the sliding movement of theelement 17 in one direction preventing casual separation of the elementfrom the handle.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting blade 15 projects anappreciable dis-" tance beyond the forward end of the handle, and issharpened to provide an inclined cutting edge 21 adapted to penetratethe side of the can, so that when the device is moved in a circle theentire top of the can is removed. This edge is bevelled so that thematerial of the can is turned inwardly during the cutting operation,thus eliminating projections and sharp points and edges which mightotherwise injure the hands of the user. The blade 15 is also preferablyformed with a 'hook like exten sion 22 having a cutting edge 23 whichallows the device to be used in a manner similar to the old and wellknown type of can opener. In other words, this hook like extremity isadapted to penetrate the top of the can adjacent the side thereof, androcked upon a bearing or foot 24 until the entire top is remover. Whilethe hook like extension 22 is herein shown as an integral part of theblade proper, I also contemplate making the hook like portion separatefrom the blade, so that the latter can be used independently of the hooklike portion when desired. Of course, the hook like portion whenseparable can lee-attached to the blade in any suitable manner. hen thecutting edge 21 is used, the centering element is first used to make anopening in the center of the top of the can, after which the handle ismoved outwardly with the centering element in a horizontal position,until the blade 15 is moved beyond the edge of the can. The handle isthen moved toward the can until the cutting edge 21 penetrates the sidethereof, whereupon the device can be moved in a circle to sever the top.It will be noted that the component parts of the device are verycompactly arranged, thus affording the same a neat .appearance and thedesired strength and rigidity at those points where the device issubjected to stress and strain incident to its use. This is particularlytrue of the blade 15, the body portion of which is of a lengthsubstantially equal to the length of the wall 14, which parts togetherwith the adjacent portion of the handle 11 areall riveted or otherwisesecured together. Y

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to haveit understood that I do not limit myself to What is herein shown anddescribed and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A can opener embodying ahandle formed from a single length ofmaterialand including parallel members spaced apart for the major portion oftheir length, one oi? said I members including a U-shaped end portion,the parallel sides of which are provided with aligned openings, acentering element slidable through said openings and in the spacebetweenthe handle mem bers, said element terminating to provide anoffset pointed extremity, a cutting blade arranged on the other memberof the handle and including an inclined cutting edge projectingforwardly of the handle, and a cutting edge projecting from one sidethereof, and means for securing the cutting blade and the adjacent endsof the handle members together; Y

in testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HERMAN O. ZBlNDlCl

